Community Education

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COMMUNITY EDUCATION

Our staff is committed to raising the level of awareness about fire safety and emergency preparedness in our community by offering a variety of educational materials and services for residents. Whether you are a young student or senior citizen, you will find the services and information we provide very useful.

Fire Safety Presentations

The Fire Department instructs the community on all types of skills necessary to protect themselves and their families by responding promptly and effectively when confronted with a fire or life safety hazards. We are available to teach valuable fire safety and preparedness tips, or conduct an equipment show and tell or demonstration for your school, community group or organization (8 person minimum).

For more information about these two programs, or if you would like to schedule an appointment please email firesvcs@encinitasca.gov or call (760) 633-2800.

Fired Up! Senior Program

Encinitas Fire Department is pleased to offer interactive educational presentations for Senior Communities. The National Fire Protection Administration (NFPA) considers seniors to be most vulnerable to home fires. Adults age 75 and older are three times more likely than the general population to die in home fires. By age 85, the rate is four times greater. Recognizing the need to educate seniors the Department provides seniors with fire safety tips and educational brochures on smoke detectors, home fire evacuation drills and portable fire extinguisher use. To obtain more information or to schedule a presentation, please call (760) 633-2800.

Safely Surrendered Baby Program

The County of San Diego has designated all Hospital Emergency Rooms and designated Fire Stations as the location where newborns can safely be surrendered to care without prosecution of the parent.

In December 2007 the San Diego County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution authorizing fire stations that are staffed full time to be designated as Safe Haven Sites. In 2007, the San Diego County Fire Chiefs Association voted unanimously to make all fire stations that are staffed full time Safe Haven Sites under the Safely Surrendered Baby Law. This law is intended to prevent the abandonment of unwanted babies, which can result in harm to the child or even death. The County Board of Supervisors approved designating fire stations that are staffed 24/7.

All Encinitas Fire Stations and Scripps Memorial Hospital in Encinitas have been designated as Safely Surrender sites. The Fire Stations display the Safe Haven Site sign and a smaller sign with instructions in case the firefighters are not in quarters.

To learn more about the safe surrendered baby program in San Diego County, visit Safe4Baby.

Station Tours

For those who are interested in viewing fire station apparatus and equipment, the Encinitas Fire Department offers station tours. Fire station tours typically include fire safety presentations as well as preparedness tips. If you would like to schedule a tour of one of our fire stations, please email firesvcs@encinitasca.gov or call (760) 633-2800.

CPR Information

The Encinitas Fire Department is not currently offering classes on performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

For information on CPR classes offered by the American Red Cross, please call (760) 757-5403.

CERT Program

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is part of a nationally supported, locally implemented initiative that teaches people how to better prepare themselves for hazards that may affect their communities. CERT trains them in basic disaster response skills such as team organization, disaster medical operations, fire safety, and light search and rescue.

Trained CERT members are sworn in as volunteer Disaster Service Workers for the City of Encinitas (Solana, Del Mar). They receive basic training to safely respond to the needs of their neighborhoods following disaster, and to serve as the eyes and ears of the City’s Emergency Operations Center and first responders.

When a disaster strikes, CERT members begin by ensuring that their family and neighbors are safe. They then await to be deployed by their fire department to serve within their community and put their training to work.

Anyone in good health and with a sense of community can become a part of CERT. If you become a CERT member, you will learn about important life-safety support techniques. You will, however, not be expected to place yourself in dangerous situations, either in the training or when a disaster strikes.

CERT training includes:

Disaster readiness

Extinguishing small fires

Basic first aid

Search and rescue tactics

Use of radios

Mass Casualty Incidents

Navigating the Incident Command System

Contact CERT for more information.

CERT Schedule

CERT Requirements

CERT academies happen once a year if there are enough interested prospects. The academy is 16 hours long, spread over four separate days of training.

CERT prospects will need to fill out several applications on the first day of the academy. They will also need to obtain a DOJ Live Scan (after the CERT academy) which will be paid for by their respective city. After a prospect has finished an academy, completed their paperwork, and completed a Live Scan, they will receive a DSW (Disaster Service Workers) card. This card allows members to work for CERT and provides credentials while performing CERT duties.

Active CERT members need to attend at least two of four quarterly trainings offered by the fire department to remain active. CERT members are responsible for keeping their DSW cards up to date.

CERT members need to be living in Encinitas (Solana, Del Mar) to be a part of the program.

Important Updates:

City of Encinitas

Welcome to the City of Encinitas!